The Republican is releasing the list in order to draw attention to one of the defining issues of his political career: pension reform. And, of course, the Democrat he hopes to unseat, Rep. Scott Peters, is on the list.

Congressional candidates regularly take aim at Washington, but it’s rare for one to chastise more than 100 current lawmakers by name, not to mention publicize the value of their annual pension payments.

“These members are already getting a very generous salary of $174,000 a year,” Mr. DeMaio, one of three Republicans running to unseat Mr. Peters, said in an interview. “Now, they’re adding insult to injury by receiving these generous pensions.”

Pension reform remains a hotly contested issue at the state and local level, but less so in Congress. In the past, conservative groups have criticized members of Congress for accepting pension payments from previous government employers, but a Republican campaign aide said Mr. DeMaio is the first candidate to take lawmakers to task by name.

Mr. DeMaio didn’t spare Republicans. Thirty-two of the 102 lawmakers on the list are GOP lawmakers. “I’m not just singling out Democrats here,” Mr. DeMaio said. “This is a bipartisan abuse.”

This isn’t the first time Mr. DeMaio has chastised elected officials and other public-sector employees over the value of their pensions. He led a lengthy fight against the City of San Diego over the value of workers’ pensions, documenting examples of perceived abuse and eventually winning a ballot measure to force reforms.

The changes, which remain tied up in litigation, would force new city workers into 401(k) retirement plans and cap pension payments for people already in the system. Mr. DeMaio is working with people in other cities, including Phoenix, Tulsa, Okla., and Ventura, Calif., to enact similar changes.

If he wins in November — first, he needs to earn a spot on the ballot in California’s June 3 primary — he promises his first bill will be a measure overhauling federal pension rules.

The federal reform Mr. DeMaio envisions would deny pensions to all new members of Congress and deduct pension payments from previous government employers from lawmakers’ salaries.

The Republican makes a special point of criticizing Mr. Peters, one of the richest members of Congress with a minimum net worth estimated at $45 million, according to the congressional newspaper Roll Call. As a former member of the San Diego City Council, he also draws an annual pension of $20,298, according to his financial disclosure forms.

But it’s not quite that simple. The congressman donates his pension – and $5,000 of his own money – to local libraries each year, a campaign spokeswoman said. He tried to decline the pension when he left the city council, but couldn’t, and now pays taxes on the pension before he donates it.

DeMaio campaign spokesman Dave McCulloch said the candidate has issued reports like the one released Monday since 2004 and assembled the latest by “using publicly available data, including member financial interest disclosures and the previous reporting done by National Journal.”

Mr. DeMaio realizes the list might not win him a warm reception among the 102 lawmakers drawing a pension from their previous public-sector employer.

“At 9% approval, their approach hasn’t worked to restore trust,” Mr. DeMaio said. “I’ve faced this before on the San Diego City Council. I’m perfectly fine being the skunk at the party.”

About Washington Wire

Washington Wire is one of the oldest standing features in American journalism. Since the Wire launched on Sept. 20, 1940, the Journal has offered readers an informal look at the capital. Now online, the Wire provides a succession of glimpses at what’s happening behind hot stories and warnings of what to watch for in the days ahead. The Wire is led by Reid J. Epstein, with contributions from the rest of the bureau. Washington Wire now also includes Think Tank, our home for outside analysis from policy and political thinkers.